Machine for operating upon hides, skins, and leather



April 28, 1936. R. F. WL-IQITNEY 2,038,621

MACHINE FOR OPERATING UPON HIDES, SKINS, AND LEATHER Filed April 9, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 H8 go 1 nu pv April 28, 1936. R, WHWNEY 2,038,621

MACHINE FOR OPERATING UPON HIDES, SKINS, AND LEATHER Filed April 9, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 the work is at Patented Apr. 28, 1936 2,038,621 MACHINE FOR OPERATING UPON HIDES,

SKINS,

Robert F. Whitney,

to The Turner Tanning AND LEATHER Winchester, Mass, assignor Machinery Qompany,

Portland, Maine, a corporation of Mame Application April 9,

1935, Serial No. 15,447

27 Claims. (Cl. 149-16) This invention relates to machines for operating upon hides, skins and leather. While the invention is illustrated as embodied in a machine for performing wringing and setting operations upon hides and skins, it will be the invention and various important features thereof may have other applications and uses.

This invention is an improvement upon the machine disclosed in United States Letters Patent No. 1,798,228, granted March 31, 1931, upon an application filed in the name of G. A. Schettler. said patent there is provided an auxiliary work support to furnish backing for a portion of the work so that said portion is treated by the bladed cylinder and at the same time spread out laterally on the auxiliary work support before it reaches a position between said bladed cylinder and. the main work support or bed roll, where the work is subjected to more thorough treatment. In the improved machine, means is provided for intermittently releasing the pressure on that portion or the work between the auxiliary work support and the bladed cylinder so that the work may be spread out more eifectively in directions transverse of the feeding movement of the work as it is drawn over the auxiliary work support under decreased tension in the direction of feed during continued movement of the work in the feeding direction under the described release of pressure. It will be understood that, during release of pressure on the work by the auxiliary work support, the bladed cylinder operates on that portion of the work which is wrapped about the cylinder and extends between the bed roll and auxiliary work support, to spread it out in directions lengthwise or the said support. However, the spreading effect on its maximum while the auxiliary work support is still supporting the work against the thrust of the cylinder at a pressure substantially below that in effect when the said work support and cylinder are nearest to each other. In this way, wrinkles in the grain surface of the hide or skin and incipient folds in the work may be eliminated and loose or baggy portions of the work effectively spread out, whileat the same time the liability of damage to such parts, by being nipped or unduly stretched, is reduced to a minimum. In the intervals between periodic release of the work, the latter is firmly engaged by the cylinder through reapplication of the pressure between the auxiliary work support and the cylinder whereby treatment by the blades of the cylinder is efiectively secured. This treatment under substantial pressure sets the hide or skin in section,

in extended condition so that such extended or spread out condition is largely maintained in the work as it comes from the machine. As disclosed herein, vibratory movements of the auxiliary work support toward and from the bladed cylinder take place so rapidly that all portions of the work receive treatment through the co-operation of the auxiliary work support and the relatively closely spaced blades of said cylinder.

In a preferred construction, the auxiliary work support, which may be a roll or a pad, is carried by swing arms arranged to be connected to means for oscillating said swing arms at a rapid rate to effect vibration of the work support whereby there is secured alternate application and release of pressure between said auxiliary work support and the cylinder during treatment of the work by said cylinder. This may be conveniently accomplished by power means arranged to operate eccentrics connected to said swing arms whereby upon rapid oscillation of the eccentrics the work support vibrates toward and from the bladed cylinder. As an alternative construction, cam means mounted on the shaft of the constantly rotating cylinder may be utilized to effect vibratory movement of the auxiliary work support.

In case a rubber covered roll is used, instead of a pad, to press the work against a bladed cylinder, the said roll is positively driven to turn in the direction of feed of the work pieces. Conveniently said roll is driven in the illustrated construction by a chain and sprocket arrangement between the said roll and a bed roll which serves as part of the work feeding means.

These and other features of construction and novel combinations of parts will now be described in detail in the specification and then pointed out more particularly in the appended claims.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a view in front elevation, and partly of a putting-out machine illustrating one embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is an end view looking from the right in Fig. 1, parts being sectioned and broken away the better to show the work treating parts of the machine;

- Fig. 3 is a view of the work treating parts of the machine with the auxiliary work support in work releasing position;

Fig. 4 is a sectional detail view somewhat enlarged and showing the auxiliary work support as a rubber pad of special construction pressing the work against the bladed cylinder;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 showing the auxiliary work support, in the form of a rubber covered roll, pressing the work against the cylinder;

supporting bladed cylinder; an

Fig. 7 is a detail view of a cam member rotatable with the cylinder to operate the auxiliary work support.

In the illustrated machine, which is particularly designed to perform wringing and setting prising journal boxes, a portion of one being shown at I4, adjustable in the machine frame in a direction toward or from a bed roll I6 with its co-operating feed roll H. To accomplish such adjustment there is provided a relatively heavy bolt member I 8, pivoted to the box I4, passing through an opening in the machine frame I 2, and carrying nuts by which it may be adjusted relatively to the frame to position the bladed cylinder I 0 with respect to the bed roll I6. Preferably, also, a spring 20 is provided between a nut 22 on the bolt member I8 and a surface on the frame I2 to hold the bladed cylinder yield ingly toward the bed roll I6.

Conveniently the cylinder 50 is driven through sprockets and chain connection 24 with a power shaft 26 driven by a power pulley 28.

For co-operation porting the work is provided,

of the pad member 30, the purpose being to provide for a nice angular adjustment of the upper surface of the pad member with respect to the bladed cylinder I0. As shown most clearly in Fig. 4, the pad member 36 supports the I0, this surface portion 02 will yield substantially to accommodate variations in the thickness of the work, it being understood that Fig. 4 shows the pressure has been released by means which will hereinafter be described.

Upon reference particularly to Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings, it will be observed that the swing arms 32 are pivotally mounted at points substantially at the middle of their length dimensions and that there is pivotally connected to each swing arm 32 at 58 a connecting rod device 50 comprising a casing member 52 which is pivoted at 48 to the swing arm 32 and through the lower end of which extends a an arm member 74 rotatable on the shaft td. Pivoted at "I6 to the lower end of the arm 74 1s a pitman I8 extensible in length in directions toward der I0. Clearly, vibratory movement may be adjusted through proper manipulation and adjustment of the hand lever 68,

It will be clear also that the rapidity of the oscillatory movements of the swing arms 32 may be predetermined by selecting the size of the pulley 96 on the shaft 84. In the illustrated construction this oscillatlcn may conveniently be at the rate may be varied considerably to suit the stock and the results desired.

In the modification shown in Fig. 7 of the first in a clockwise direction through contact between one of the cams I02 and the cam roll I00 and subsequently in a counter-clockwise direction through the action of a spring I04 at of treatment by the blades and pad being substantially longer than that of the relatively free spreading action by said blades.

In the machine illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, of the drawings, the bladed cylinder I is utilized to spread out the work in co-operation With the pad member 30, said cylinder operating also to remove moisture from the work which in this case is a wet hide or skin 46. In this construction, also, the bed roll I6 is provided with a loose felt sleeve I I2 acting as an absorbent covering to take up water from the work, the said bed roll I6 co-operating with the feed roll I1 which is also provided with a felt sleeve I I6. It will be understood, then, that the rolls I6 and I1, with their felt sleeves H2 and H6, not only feed the work past the bladed cylinder I0 but also serve as moisture removing elements. Since the bladed cylinder II] would damage the felt sleeve II2 if it were turning in contact with the latter, the cylinder It is spaced somewhat from the bed roll I6 when a felt sleeve is used on the bed roll.

In Fig. 5 of the drawings there is shown an arrangement of the parts of a combined wringing and setting machine for hides and skins wherein a rubber covered roll II I is provided as an auxiliary work support in place of a pad like that shown at 30 in Fig. 4. This roll II I is journaled at its ends in swing arms 32 which are mounted upon the shaft of the bed r011 I6 as above described. While the swing arms 32 in Figs. 4 and 5 are shown as operated by a double cam disclosed in connection with Fig. 7 of the drawings, it will be understood that said swing arms 32 may bevibrated by the means described and shown in Figs. 1 to 3,inclusive,- of the drawings. As illustrated, the roll III is driven positively in the same direction as the bed roll I6, such driving of the roll I I I serving to eliminate frictional drag of the work over the auxiliary work support in the direction of feed, thereby lessening the tension on the work in a direction lengthwise thereof (as compared with'suchtension where a pad is used) with the result that the bladed cylinder may the more readily spread the work in directions transverse of its feeding movement. For driving the roll I I I there is provided a chain H3 which passes arounda sprocket wheel I I5 secured to the shaft of the roll III and also over a sprocket III secured to the shaft of a bed roll I6. Ordinarily the roll I I I will be driven at the same rate asthe roll I6. It may, however, be driven faster or slower than the latter as indications may require. The auxiliaryroll III will be used in preference to the pad 30 in a wringing or combined wringing and setting ma- Chine in those instances where it is desirable to put less pressure on the work and less tension on the work in its direction of feed, it being clear that a piece of work drawn over a roll like that shown at I I I is subjected to a lesser tension than a corresponding piece of work drawn over a pad mounted and operated like that at 30. Since, as indicated above, both rolls I6 and III in Fig. 5 are driven in a direction to feed the work past the bladed cylinder, certain classes of work may be subjected to just the right tension in the direction of feed if the auxiliary roll be not vibrated toward and from the tool while the work is undergoing treatment, it being clear that the tensicn on the work in the direction of feed is not so great with the auxiliary roll driven in the direction of feed as would be the case, for instance, with a non-vibratory pad serving as the auxiliary work support.

Where a felt sleeve or the like is not used on the bedroll, the bladed cylinder I0 may be so adjusted that the bed roll takes the thrust of the cylinder in conjunction with the auxiliary work support which may be a pad member, as shown at 30 in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, or alternatively, a rubber covered roll, like that shown at H8 in Fig. 6 of the drawings. In the latter case, the bed roll is a rubber covered roll I20. As illustrated, the auxiliary roll H8 is power driven from the bed roll I20 by means of a chain I22 passing around sprockets I24 and I26, respectively, on the shafts of the rolls H8 and I20, the arrangement being such that the auxiliary roll H8 is rotated in the same direction as the bed roll I20, the latter having for co-operation there- I with a feed roll I28, which may have a fluted or roughened surface, whereby a piece of work I30 is fed past the bladed cylinder w. This construction is useful, not only for putting-out, but also in unhairing and fleshing operations, since the cylinder operates not only on those portions of the work backed by the rolls H8 and I but upon that portion of the work which extends between said rolls. It will be seen that, in this construction, the roll I I8 which is mounted upon swing arms, one of which is shown at I32, is ar ranged to be vibrated toward and from the bladed cylinder III by a double cam I34 co-operating with a cam roll I36 similar to the means employed to vibrate the pad member in Fig. 7. Alternatively, the vibrating means for the swing arms may be similar to that disclosed in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. In this connection, attention is called to the fact that the cams I34 are so shaped as to give a vibratory movement to the auxiliary work support somewhat similar to that produced by the eccentrics 62 in Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive.

In certain operations, as for instance, in putting-out and in unhairing of hides and skins, it is desirable to be able to reverse the direction of feed of the work piece so as to treat portions of the Work piece a second time to secure substantial uniformity in the finished work. Such reverse movement of the work piece, in a machine employing a pad as the auxiliary work support, is facilitated by the described vibratory movements of the pad. On the other hand, in a putting-out or unhairing machine which utilizes a roll as the auxiliary work support, the work piece may not require vibration of the roll to secure the best results; and the direction of feeding movement of the workpiece may be readily changed since the auxiliary roll is driven from the bed roll and turns in the same direction as the latter to assist in feeding the work piece either into or out of the machine.

As most clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings the feed roll I1 is mounted in two heavy arms I40 pivoted at I42 to the frame I2 of the machine, the said arms I40 having their front ends I44 held downwardly by springs I46 the tension of which may beadjustable by screw threaded members I48. For driving the feed roll I! there is provided a large sprocket wheel I50 arranged to 'be driven constantly by a chain I52 passing over a sprocket wheel I54 on a shaft rctatably mounted in the lower part of the machine frame. At its other end the shaft of the feed roll I1 is provided with a toothed gear I58 arranged to be engaged with a corresponding toothed gear I60 on the shaft of the bed roll I6 as the latter moves into its operative position, whereby the bed roll is driven by the feed roll While said bed roll is in co-operative relation to the roll I1. As soon as the bed roll moves away from the feed roll I1, the toothed gear I is disengaged from the toothed gear I58 so that the bed roll is stationary while the work is being placed thereover. As indicated in Fig. 2 of the drawings, the bed roll I6 is carried by links one of which is shown at I62 pivoted at I64 on'the arm M8. The said bed roll I6 is moved. between work receiving and work presenting positions by means of toggles each comprising toggle links I66, I68, the toggles being arranged to be straightened by means of pitmen, one of which is shown at I10 as operable through connection with a large gear wheel I12 arranged to be driven through a half revolution each time that the operator steps upon a treadle I14 (Fig. 1) thereby controlling a clutch indicated at I16. For a more complete disclosure of the operating or driving means for the various parts of the machine, reference may be had to United States Letters Patent No. 1,798,228, mentioned earlier in this specification.

In operating the machine disclosed in the drawings, a hide or skin to be set out and-to have Water removed therefrom is placed over the felt covered bed roll I6 (Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, and Fig. 7) and over the auxiliary work support 36 when these two members are in open or work receiving position, that is, when the toggle comprising toggle links I66, I68 is broken. Upon depressing the treadle IN, the toggle is straightened with the result that the bed roll I6 and pad 33 are moved to the position shown in Fig. 2. While the bed roll is moving into co-operative relation with respect to the feed roll I1, the toothed gears I55 and I60 intermesh to drive the bed roll I6 in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 2. Engagement of the feed roll I1 with the work on the bed roll I6 takes place an instant before the pad presses the work against the bladed cylinder it, it being clear that the work would be very likely to be displaced from the bed roll if the cylinder and pad should engage the work prior to the grip of the two rolls I 6 and I1, since the bladed cylinder turns in a direction the opposite to that of the bed roll. During its rotation the bladed cylinder not only removes moisture from the hide or skin but, since the'cylinder blades are helically arranged and extend in opposite directions from a middle part of the cylinder, the latter serves also to spread the hide or skin in directions transverse of its direction of feed. To assist in removing moisture from the hide or skin, the two rolls I6 and I1 are each provided with a felt sleeve or other absorbent covering, the latter taking up moisture while the said rolls are feeding the work past the cylinder. By having the pad 30 vibrate rapidly in directions toward and from the bladed cylinder III, the hide or skin is intermittently released from all or from a great deal of the pressure applied at the time that the pad is being pressed most firmly against the cylinder. During the time that the pressure is released, and considerably reduced, as will be the case due to the shape of the eccentrics 62 and cams 434%, the tension on the hide or skin in the direction of feed is reduced thereby permitting the cylinder I0 to spread the skin out more thoroughly in directions transverse to the feeding direction. However, the period of release just mentioned is very short indeed, so much so that no part of the work escapes treatment by the blades of the cylinder which follow each other very closely during rotation of the cylinder at about 500 R. P. M. While the feed rolls are driven at about 50 R. P. M. In fact, at the speeds given for the cylinder and feed rolls, there is a constant and substantial overlapping of the areas treated by the individual blades of the rapidly rotating cylinder. However, the described release and reduction of tension are suificient for the purpose and insure better spreading out of the work while at the same time so relieving the tension as to minimize the likelihood of injury to any part of the work. The machine is particularly advantageous in treating cattle hides having baggy hip portions which, in prior machines, are liable to be damaged by being nipped and/ or unduly stretched. However, the vibratory pad is advantageous with all classes of skins and hides for the reason that they are much better spread out with less likelihood of damage through overstretching, particularly of certain stretchy portions such as the flanks of the hides or skins.

As indicated above, a roll may be substituted for the pad as an auxiliary work support, the roll so vibrated being especially advantageous in constructions where the bed roll takes the thrust of the bladed cylinder along with the auxiliary work support or roll, as shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings. Here, the auxiliary roll I I8 is vibrated to release or reduce the pressure intermittently so that the hides or skins, and the shanks thereof, may be spread out to better advantage by the helically bladed cylinder and to avoid undue tension upon the hides or skins undergoing fleshing, unhairing, putting-out or setting operations.

It will be understood that the hide or skin is fed toward the operator by the rolls I6 and I1 and that approximately one-half of the hide or skin is treated upon being introduced into the machine. Hence, as soon as the work has been fed out by the rolls I6 and I1, the operator depresses the treadle I14 to cause movement of the bed roll I6 and of the auxiliary work support to open, work receiving position, whereupon the skin may be reintroduced to secure treatment of the untreated portion thereof. Another depression of the treadle I14 causes the bed roll and auxiliary work support to move to work presenting position shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a machine for operating upon hides, skins and leather, a tool, a member arranged to support a piece of work for operation by said tool, and means to vibrate the work supporting member rapidly in directions toward and from the tool during operation of the tool on the work whereby the work is alternately pressed against the tool and released from such pressure during treatment thereof.

2. In a machine for operating upon hides, skins and leather, a bladed cylinder, a member arranged to support a piece of work for operation by said cylinder, and means to vibrate the work supporting member rapidly in directions toward and from the bladed cylinder while the work is being progressively moved past said cylinder whereby the work is alternately pressed against the cylinder and released from such pressure during treatment thereof.

3. In a machine for operating upon hides, skins and leather, a rotary tool, a member arranged to support a piece of work for operation by said tool, means for feeding the work over said support and past said tool, and means controlled by said rotary tool to vibrate the work supporting member in directions toward and from the tool during feeding of the work, whereby the work is alternately pressed against the tool and released from such pressure.

4. In a machine for operating upon hides, skins and leather, a rotary tool, a work support arranged to carry a piece of work for operation by said tool, means for feeding the work over said support and past said tool, and means operated by said rotary tool to vibrate the work support in directions toward and from the tool during feeding of the work, whereby the work is alternately pressed against the tool and released from such pressure.

5. In a machine for operating upon hides, skins and leather, a rotary tool, a work support arranged to support a piece of work for operation by said tool, means for feeding the work over said support and past said tool, and a cam member mounted to rotate with said rotary tool and arranged to vibrate the work support in directions toward and from the tool during feeding of the work, whereby the work is alternately pressed against the tool and released from such pressure.

6. In a machine for operating upon hides, skins and leather, a rotary tool, a work support arranged to support a piece of work for operation by said tool, means for feeding the work over said support-and past said tool, and power means operated in timed relation to the rotation of said rotary tool to vibrate the work support in directions toward and from the tool during feeding of the work whereby the work is alternately pressed against the tool and released from such pressure.

'7 In a machine for operating upon hides, skins and leather, a rotary bladed tool, a work support arranged to support a piece of work for operation by said tool, means for feeding the work over said support and past said tool, swing arms arranged to carry said work support, means to move the work support alternately between work receiving and work presenting positions with respect to said tool, and crank mechanism connected to said swing arms to oscillate the swing arms and thus eifect vibration of the work support in directions toward and from said rotary tool during feeding of the work.

8. In a machine for operating upon hides, skins and leather, a bladed cylinder, a work support to back a piece of work against the thrust of said cylinder, a feed roll, a bed roll over which the piece of work is fed by co-operation of the bed roll and feed roll, swing arms mounted to turn about the axis of rotation of the bed roll and arranged to support said work support, and means to effect vibration of said work support in directions toward and from the bladed cylinder during feeding of the work.

9. In a machine for operating upon hides, skins and leather, a bladed cylinder, a work support to back a piece of work against the thrust of said cylinder, a feed roll, a bed roll over which a piece of work is fed by co-operation of the bed roll and feed roll, swing arms arranged to support said work support, spring means connected to said swing arms and adjustable to hold said work support yieldingly against said bladed cylinder, and means connected to said swing arms and operable to vibrate said work support in directions toward and from said bladed cylinder while said feed roll and bed roll continue to feed the work. 7

10. In a machine for operating upon hides, skins and leather, a bladed cylinder, a work support to back a piece of work against the thrust of said cylinder, a feed roll, a bed roll over which the piece of work is fed by co-operation of the bed roll and feed roll, swing arms arranged to support said work support, manually operable means to adjust the swing arms to vary the pressure at which the work support presses the work against the cylinder, and power means connected to said manually operable means to oscillate the latter at relatively high speed thereby to effect, through said swing arms, vibration of the work support in directions toward and from the bladed cylinder.

11. In a machine for operating upon hides, skins and leather, a bladed cylinder, a work support to back a piece of work against the thrust of said cylinder, means for feeding the work past the bladed cylinder and over said work support, swing arms arranged to support said work support, spring means connected to said swing arms to hold the work support yieldingly in the direction of said bladed cylinder,-manually operable means to adjust the swing arms thereby to adjust the work support with respect to said cylinder, and means to vibrate said swing arms whereby said work support alternately presses the work against the bladed cylinder and releases the work from the pressure of the work support so that in the latter case the work is free for. an instant to be adjusted and stretched transversely by said cylinder, during movement of the work over the work support in the feeding direction.

12. In a machine for operating upon hides, skins and leather, a bladed cylinder, a work support to back a piece of work against the thrust of said cylinder, means to feed the piece of work over the work support and past said cylinder, swing arms arranged to support said work support, eccentrics connected to said swing arms, a shaft to which the eccentrics are secured, and power means having connections to oscillate said shaft and eccentrics at a relatively high rate thereby, through said swing arms, to vibrate said work support in directions toward and from the bladed cylinder during feeding of the work.

13. In a machine for operating upon hides, skins and leather, a bladed cylinder, a work support to back a piece of work against the thrust of said cylinder, a feed roll, a bed roll over which a piece of work is fed by co-operation of the bed roll and feed roll, swing arms arranged to support said work support, cam rolls carried by said swing arms adjacent to said work support, and cam members carried by said bladed cylinder and arranged to contact said cam rolls during the rotation of the bladed cylinder to effect vibration of the work support in directions toward and from the bladed cylinder.

14. In a machine for operating upon hides, skins and leather, a bladed cylinder, a bed roll mounted to support a piece of work against the thrust of the cylinder, an auxiliary work support also mounted to back the work against the thrust of the cylinder, a feed roll arranged to co-operate with the bed roll in feeding the work past the bladed cylinder, and means to vibrate the auxiliary work support in directions toward and from the bladed cylinder while the bed roll remains in work presenting relation to the cylinder, whereby the work is intermittently released from pressure between said auxiliary work support and cylinder.

15. In a machine for operating upon hides, skins and leather, a bladed cylinder, a bed roll mounted to support a piece of work against the thrust of the cylinder, an auxiliary'work support also mounted to back the work against the thrust of the cylinder, a feed roll arranged to co-operate with the bed roll in feeding the work past the bladed cylinder, means to move the bed roll and auxiliary work support between open work receiving position and closed work presenting position with respect to the bladed cylinder, and means to vibrate the auxiliary work support in directions toward and from the bladed cylinder while the bed roll remains in work presenting relation to the cylinder, whereby the work is intermittently released from the pressure between said auxiliary work support and cylinder.

16. In a machine for operating upon hides, skins and leather, a bladed cylinder, a bed roll mounted to support a piece of work against the thrust of the cylinder, an auxiliary work supporting roll also arranged to support the work against the thrust of the cylinder, means for driving the auxiliary roll in, the same direction as the bed roll, a feed roll co-operating with the bed roll to feed the work past the cylinder, and means to vibrate the auxiliary work supporting roll in directions toward and from the cylinder, while the bed roll maintains work presenting relation to the cylinder.

17. In a machine for operating upon hides, skins and leather, a bladed cylinder, a bed roll mounted to support a piece of work against the thrust of the cylinder, an auxiliary work supporting roll arranged to support the work against the thrust of the cylinder, means for driving the auxiliary roll positively in the same direction as the bed roll, a feed roll co-operating with the bed roll to feed the work past the cylinder, swing arms in which said auxiliary roll is mounted, eccentrics connected to said swing arms, and power means to oscillate said eccentrics and thereby to vibrate the auxiliary roll in directions toward and from the bladed cylinder while the bed roll maintains work presenting relation to the cylinder, whereby the work is intermittently released from pressure between the auxiliary roll and the bladed cylinder.

18. In a machine for operating upon hides, skins and leather, a bladed cylinder, a bed roll mounted to support a piece of work against the thrust of the cylinder, an auxiliary work supporting roll arranged to support the work against the thrust of the cylinder, means for driving the auxiliary roll in the same direction as the bed roll, a feed roll co-operating with the bed roll to feed the work past the cylinder, a pair of swing arms for mounting said bed roll, a pair of swing arms in which said auxiliary roll is mounted, means to operate both pairs of swing arms to move both the bed roll and the auxiliary roll alternately between work receiving and work presenting positions with relation to the bladed cylinder, eccentrics connected to said auxiliary roll swing arms, and power means to oscillate said eccentrics and thereby to vibrate the auxiliary roll in directions toward'and from the bladed cylinder while the bed roll maintains work presenting relation to said cylinder, whereby the work is intermittently released from pressure between the aum'liary roll and the bladed cylinder.

19. In a machine for setting hides and skins and wringing water therefrom, a bladed cylinder and a Work support co-operating to set out a hide or skin and to remove water therefrom, a pair of rolls having absorbent coverings to take up water from portions of the hide or skin while other portions of the same hide or skin are being operated upon by the bladed cylinder and work support, and means to vibrate the work support rapidly in directions toward and from the bladed cylinder whereby the hide or skin is intermittently released from pressure between the pad and bladed cylinder during continued treatment of the work by saidrolls and cylinder.

20. In a machine for setting hides and skins and wringing water therefrom, a bladed cylinder and a work support co-operating to set out a hide or skin and to remove water therefrom, a pair of rolls having absorbent coverings to take up water from portions of the hide or skin after said portions have been operated upon by the bladed cylinder and work support, said rolls serving also as feeding means to draw the hide or skin past said bladed cylinder, and means to vibrate the work support in directions toward and from the bladed cylinder while said rolls continuously feed the work, whereby the hide or skin is intermittently released from pressure between the work support and bladed cylinder.

21. In a machine for setting hides and skins and wringing water therefrom, a bladed cylinder and a pad co-operating to set out a hide or skin and to remove water therefrom, a pair of rolls having felt sleeves to take up Water from portions of the hide or skin after said portions have been operated upon by the bladed cylinder and pad, said rolls serving also as feeding means to draw the hide or skin past said bladed cylinder, and means to vibrate the pad in directions toward and from the bladed cylinder while said sleeved rolls continue to feed the work past the cylinder, whereby the hide or skin is intermittently released from pressure between the pad and bladed cylinder.

22. In a machine for setting hides and skins and wringing water therefrom, a bladed cylinder and a Work support co-operating to spread out a hide or skin and to remove water therefrom, a pair of rolls having felt sleeves to take up water from portions of the hide or skin after said portions have been operated upon by the bladed cylinder and work support, said rolls serving also as feeding means to draw the hide or skin past said bladed cylinder, swing arms arranged to carry the work support and to move the work support toward and away from the bladed cylinder, eccentrics connected to said swing arms, a manually operable member connected to said eccentrics to enable the operator to adjust the work support with respect to the bladed cylinder, and power means to oscillate said eccentrics, thereby to vibrate the work support in directions toward and from the bladed cylinder while said rolls continue to feed the work, whereby portions of the hide or skin are intermittently released from pressure between the work support and bladed cylinder.

23. In a machine for operating upon hides, skins and leather, a bladed cylinder, a bed roll mounted to support the work, a roll arranged to co-operate with the bed roll to feed the work past said cylinder, an auxiliary work supporting roll arranged to support the work against the thrust of the cylinder, and means to drive the auxiliary roll positively in the same direction as the bed roll.

24. In a machine for operating upon hides, skins and leather, a bladed cylinder, a feed roll, a bed roll over which a piece of work is fed by co-operation of the bed roll and feed roll, an auxiliary roll to support the work against the thrust of the cylinder, swing arms mounted to turn about the axis of rotation of the bed roll and arranged to support said auxiliary roll; and

means to drive the auxiliary roll positively in the same direction as said bed roll.

25. In a machine for setting hides and skins and for wringing water therefrom, a bladed cylinder and a rubber covered roll co-operating to set out a hide or skin and to remove water therefrom, a pair of rolls having absorbent coverings to take up water from portions of the hide or skin, said rolls serving also as feeding means to draw the hide or skin past said bladed cylinder, and means to drive the rubber covered roll positively in the direction of feed of the hide or skin.

26. In a machine for setting hides and skins and for wringing water therefrom, a bladed cylinder, a rubber covered roll co-operating with the cylinder to put out a hide or skin and to remove water therefrom, a pair of rolls having felt sleeves to take up water from portions of the hide or skin, means to feed the hide or skin past said bladed cylinder, swing arms carried by the lower of the felt covered rolls to support the rubber covered roll and move it toward and away from the bladed cylinder, and means for driving the rubber covered roll positively from one of the felt sleeved rolls and in the same direction as the lower felt sleeved roll to move the work past the bladed cylinder.

27. In a machine for operating upon hides, skins and leather, a bladed cylinder, a feed roll, a bed roll over which a piece of work is fed by co-operation of the bed roll and feed roll, an auxiliary roll to support the work against the thrust of the cylinder, swing arms mounted to turn about the axis of rotation of the bed roll and arranged to support said auxiliary roll, and chain and sprocket wheels associated with the bed roll and the auxiliary roll to drive the latter positively from the bed roll.

ROBERT F. WHITNEY. 

